These five cities demonstrated that God’s power extends over every land, prompting even Israel’s enemies to bring tribute to the LORD in an attempt to end divine judgment.
“These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron.” (1 Samuel 6:17). This verse follows the dramatic account of how the Philistines, struck by plagues after capturing the ark of the covenant, decided to send it back to Israel along with golden images shaped like tumors as a guilt offering. By doing so, they sought to acknowledge the power of the God of Israel, hoping to appease Him and end the calamities that had befallen their land. Historically, these events take place around the late period of the judges (circa 1100 BC), during the lifetime of Samuel, Israel’s final judge (1 Samuel 4-8). Although the Philistines had frequently warred with Israel, they came to fear the LORD when illnesses ravaged their population after they took the ark (1 Samuel 5).
The verse notes five major Philistine city-states: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. Each city received one golden tumor as a representation of their confession of guilt before the LORD. Ashdod sat near the Mediterranean coast and was a stronghold that appears often in Israel’s conflicts (Amos 1:8). Likewise, Gaza was a significant coastal city controlling southern trade routes (Amos 1:6-7). Ashkelon was another prosperous Philistine port, north of Gaza, known for its involvement in commerce. Gath lay inland and was possibly weakened by prior conquests, as indicated in attacks by Hazael of Aram (2 Kings 12:17) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6), while Ekron was the northernmost Philistine city and often passed between Israelite and Philistine control (Joshua 13:3; Judges 1:18). These fierce rivals of Israel eventually realized that their possessions and might could not withstand the hand of the LORD, so they submitted to returning His ark with these guilt offerings.
Each golden tumor symbolized both the plague that had afflicted them and their recognition that Israel’s God was supreme over their territory. Although the Philistines had their own pantheon, the afflictions confirmed that the God of Israel held ultimate power. In an era when gods were often believed to have only local influence, this event was a striking declaration: the LORD’s sovereignty extends beyond Israel’s borders. By returning these offerings, the Philistines hoped, in humility, to restore peace to their cities and appease the LORD of hosts who had judged them for profaning His holy ark.
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1 Samuel 6:17 meaning
“These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron.” (1 Samuel 6:17). This verse follows the dramatic account of how the Philistines, struck by plagues after capturing the ark of the covenant, decided to send it back to Israel along with golden images shaped like tumors as a guilt offering. By doing so, they sought to acknowledge the power of the God of Israel, hoping to appease Him and end the calamities that had befallen their land. Historically, these events take place around the late period of the judges (circa 1100 BC), during the lifetime of Samuel, Israel’s final judge (1 Samuel 4-8). Although the Philistines had frequently warred with Israel, they came to fear the LORD when illnesses ravaged their population after they took the ark (1 Samuel 5).
The verse notes five major Philistine city-states: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. Each city received one golden tumor as a representation of their confession of guilt before the LORD. Ashdod sat near the Mediterranean coast and was a stronghold that appears often in Israel’s conflicts (Amos 1:8). Likewise, Gaza was a significant coastal city controlling southern trade routes (Amos 1:6-7). Ashkelon was another prosperous Philistine port, north of Gaza, known for its involvement in commerce. Gath lay inland and was possibly weakened by prior conquests, as indicated in attacks by Hazael of Aram (2 Kings 12:17) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6), while Ekron was the northernmost Philistine city and often passed between Israelite and Philistine control (Joshua 13:3; Judges 1:18). These fierce rivals of Israel eventually realized that their possessions and might could not withstand the hand of the LORD, so they submitted to returning His ark with these guilt offerings.
Each golden tumor symbolized both the plague that had afflicted them and their recognition that Israel’s God was supreme over their territory. Although the Philistines had their own pantheon, the afflictions confirmed that the God of Israel held ultimate power. In an era when gods were often believed to have only local influence, this event was a striking declaration: the LORD’s sovereignty extends beyond Israel’s borders. By returning these offerings, the Philistines hoped, in humility, to restore peace to their cities and appease the LORD of hosts who had judged them for profaning His holy ark.